Top 9 Best Broadheads for Elk in 2017

If you want success when hunting elk then you need the right broadhead. Without proper penetration that shoulder hit may mean failure, and there’s often no second chance. With tapered carbon arrows that are just a little heavier and the right razor sharp broadhead you can take that animal without a problem. You’ll want to aim for about 650 grains total weight which means you’ve got to consider heavier broadheads than when shooting deer or turkey. In fact, many hunters choose the heaviest broadhead they can find for elk so that you can get your Forward of Center as high as possible. The higher the FOC the more penetration you can expect which is crucial for elk.

On top of weight, you’ll also want to consider whether you want single or double beveled heads. Double beveled broadheads are better because they provide an extra cutting edge to do greater internal damage but also because the dual edge means that even if you strike bone you’ll still have another side of the edge so you may get a deflection which saves the shot.

There are more than enough heads suitable for taking down elk and your current system may still be adequate but the most effective without doubt is a steel broadhead. You need the durability of steel to get through the thick hide and muscles which is why the one-piece fixed blade broadhead is king. This construction also means you’ve got better penetration and a more solid hit which can sustain the abuse of hitting the animal and still be sharp enough to cut through whatever is inside.

Don’t let fancy construction sway you, it’s essential that you have a hardened and quality broadhead for elk and watch out for poor assembly.

The Top 9 Best Elk Broadhead Reviews

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A lovely clean design that comes with power and penetration – perfect for taking out an elk.

These are one of the most popular one piece designs for elk hunters because they are so reliable.

If you want reliability then Montec is a brand that comes up time and time again.

With 100% carbon steel design these are sharper and harder which will ensure that they cut with precision and crush bone.

These are considered to be one of the best choices for elk.

1 1/16” cutting diameter

100 grain

Penetration Unavailable

100g

Pros:

The g5 can be resharpened time and time again so you can get multiple uses out of it (as long as you don’t damage the blade). The carbon steel construction is easier to sharpen than standard which means this is a worthy choice even if you’re skeptical of not having replaceable blades. The carbon steel also holds an edge well making it ideal for sharpening. This makes these broadheads a cost effective choice over having to replace blades after every elk. While cost effectiveness should be important performance is key and these are close to field point accurate as well so you’ll get the power even if the shot flies foul.

Cons:

The problem with having one piece construction is that if you nick the blade you have to get a whole new head. This can become far more costly if you’re constantly having to replace heads or if you’re the type to replace after every kill. They’re also rather expensive to start with and that’s partially because of the quality of steel. Despite being fairly accurate there’s also some issue over longer distances and it seems that the further the shot the less accurate they are.

Pros:

These are made of the same quality hardened steel as many high-end hunting knives which means they retain their edge better even after multiple uses. They provide accurate performance and good penetration. The blades are easy to remove and sharpen so it isn’t a true single piece construction because the entire head essentially comes off to sharpen except for the ferrule. The company also offers a lifetime guarantee that covers everything except stupidity so that if your blades do fail on a hunt they will replace them. These are not disposable quality despite the option to replace the blades and will spin true which gives them the closest to field point accuracy of all the heads here. There’s also an option for both 1/2” and 3/4” blades where the ½ inch causes more penetration and pass-throughs which makes it more suited for elk.

Cons:

On the downside, these are double to treble the price of other broadheads. The cost relates entirely to the hardened steel design but the hardened steel also has a tendency to shatter when it comes up against a hard object. This is great if you can guarantee your accuracy but if your shot isn’t on target that seems to negate the entire point of paying for better steel. Another issue is that this is also a pretty large head which can affect your FOC and is going to be difficult for some hunting styles.

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While bigger might be better when it comes to elk, it is possible to use a smaller broadhead with success.

The shuttle design copies the aerodynamics of the space shuttle to help it fly faster and more accurately.

Thanks to those aerodynamics this broadhead has a nice clean entry and with decent penetration a solid exit too.

The design is intended on being stout and rugged which is why the blades are solid instead of cutout like the Solid Legends, plus cut out blades would certainly shatter at this smaller size.

It has a hardened steel ferrule with a uniquely patented T-Lok system to guarantee blade retention.

These broadheads are designed to hit hard and fast with a chisel tip to shatter whatever they go through.

1 1/8”-11 3/16” cutting diameter

100, 125 grain

Black or standard

Non vented blades

Penetration Unavailable

Pros:

The smaller broadhead means you can quickly fire a follow up shot if necessary, a major bonus that most other elk broadheads can’t offer. This broadhead deserves it’s place for any elk hunter because they penetrate deep and have a heavy impact. Unlike many other fixed blade broadheads, these are non vented which does cause a little drag which slows the arrow down but creates silent flight in return. Plus the solid design means a punchier hit for better penetration. This means the Shuttle will sail through bone without any issues and do it very quietly. You could almost shoot these over and over because you’ve got some very durable blades so you needn’t worry about tough elk hide despite the small size.

Cons:

You’ll find that the blades could use significant sharpening straight out of the box if you want to slice through elk hide with ease. There’s also a little more planing than some other heads which may be a problem for some hunters but can be tweaked through adjustments (though without a practice head that can get costly).

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Muzzy is a well-known and long lived brand when it comes to the best broadheads for elk, deer and just about anything.

Many hunters grew up using Muzzy because of names like Tom Miranda.

Today the name is one that is known for reliability and for producing a product that works.

The helix blade design on the Trocar creates stability as it spins so that it has improved accuracy but it will still leave a good sized hole even at longer ranges.

These are quite close to field point perfect, especially when compared with the Montec, plus they’re designed t durable which makes them perfect for elk.

100 grain

1 3/16” max cutting diameter

Penetration Unavailable

Pros:

The chisel tip which can shatter bone but the helix blade only allows the arrow to spin, keeping the blades steady so their impact is greater an more forceful. They’re small in comparison to the Montec but about the same as the Shuttle so they add little forward weight to the arrow but they have a cutting diameter that’s equal to other larger and heavier heads. Muzzy just has a long history of dependable and “get it done” tools which is why there’s not a lot of fuss or fancy steels, just simple engineering.

Cons:

The blades are sharp, but you’ll want to sharpen them before trying to use them on tough elk hide. They’re also designed to need fine tuning or you’ll only be able to get within a couple of inches accuracy of field point. The biggest problem s that these are better for deer and they aren’t really strong enough to stand up to an elk shoulder bone. You’ll see significant nicks to the cutting blades in that instance, so much that you might end up discarding the head entirely since you can’t replace the blades which can become costly.

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This has been around for a little bit now and the name still hasn’t made a lot of lists because it gets pushed out by long-running names like Muzzy.

These are made for heavy bows and have 4 blades including 2 bleeder blades with a good wedge point and an unusual serrated edge and a design that makes it significantly bigger than many others, in fact it’s almost twice the size of the Shuttle.

It’s available in a 2 and 4 blade design but the buzzcut is the way to go for a better trail plus the serration makes neat work of elk hide.

85, 100, 125, 150 grain

420 stainless Steel

1 1/4” cutting diameter

Pros:

This is one of the sharpest blades you can get out of the box plus the design is solid with a good point which will help it stick well. The chisel and serration design penetrates better than a smooth edge because you’re adding multiple extra cutting blades which can produce more damage. These are also quite easy to sharpen despite the serration though the smooth 2 blade version is obviously easier. The accuracy is almost the same as field points plus they come with a warranty for lifetime replacement like the Solid Legends.

Cons:

The exit hole could be a little bigger but you’ll still have decent blood trail for what it can do. There’s really not a lot of bad things to say about these other than that they may not be the preference for some hunters because of the serration. This does make sharpening a little harder but not significantly enough to make this a downside.

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Like Muzzy, the Thunderheads have been around for decades because they’re simple and they work; plus they also happen to be some of the cheapest out there in packs of 5 and 6 to what other companies are charging for 3.

These are extremely sharp and wicked looking and you’ll need to be careful during assembly not to cut yourself – they’re that sharp.

– 1 3/16” cutting diameter

– 100 grain

Pros:

You’ll definitely forget the pain of replacing heads at the cost of these. They’re so easy to assemble even with the replacement blades. You can actually shoot these heads without the blades for target practice which is really helpful since there isn’t a practice head and you won’t have to waste blades. Part of the attraction of thunderheads is that they’ve been used for so long without changing the design. Muzzy might have the same longevity but the design has been upgraded while these simply fly right and powerfully enough that no upgrade is necessary.

Cons:

There’s some quality control issues so you need to be careful where you source these or the heads may not be centered properly. You’ll get some wobble on a spinner and this can be a huge problem over 25 yards when it comes to accuracy. They do require assembly when they arrive which is also a pain and you can’t store them off the shaft unless they are disassembled.

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With a unique design that looks more like a saber handle than a broadhead this is certainly a unique construction.

This is very different because it compresses as it passes through dense material like bone but then springs back once it passes through so that it creates maximum damage.

It is a chisel point ferrule wrapped with four strands of flexible razor wire.

This means it flies faster since there’s no resistance from the low profile but will do the same internal damage as an expandable.

Bladeless Construction

1 1/2” cutting diameter

100 grain

Pros:

With an innovative design this is as accurate as a field tip because it essentially is a field tip with a little wire around it. This is convenient because it means you can practice without the razor wire and you’ll be using almost the exact same weight in the field. The bladeless design gives a practically indestructible design that’s easy to change out as necessary and gives plenty of penetration. This will work for elk because of the impressive speed and penetration; it’s also great because the ferrule is so sturdy so it will definitely pass through a shoulder without trouble.

Cons:

It makes a little noise thanks to the air flowing between the wires and you’ll be able to tell the difference between this and other fixed heads but you can’t do anything bout it because it’s the wire causing it. The wires are also likely to get destroyed pulling them out of the animal. It would be nice if it came in a heavier grain too.

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Muzzy is a leader in the broadhead industry and the Phantom 4 lives up to the standards of its predecessors.

The design of these broadheads can cut through just about anything which makes it perfect for tough elk hide.

It has 4 fixed blades that are designed to slide through hide with a clean hole to take down any big game you aim it at.

Great penetration that will split bone and effective power that brings your elk down quickly and humanely.

The difference between this and the Trocar is that the Trocar is a more heavy hitter that will work better with faster bow setup while the Phantom 4 performs better at slower speeds.

125 grain

1 1/8” cutting diameter

Penetration Unknown

Pros:

The two main blade design causes substantial and immediate blood loss, plus the smaller bleeder blades are the same specification as the main blades which helps stop them sheering off since they’re just as hard. It’s easy to disassemble and the blades are easy to sharpen.

Cons:

After 230fp they can get a little unreliable, and you may find you’re struggling to stop it spiralling off target even with tweaking and tuning. This is not a good sign of reliability and may make them unsuitable depending on your set up. These are only accurate at slower speeds plain and simple.

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This broadhead is designed to have a really low profile, like a mechanical but it’s reliable because it’s a fixed blade.

This is designed for fast bows and give maximum penetration, especially if you’re working with a lighter setup.

These make big holes and they will penetrate a shoulder bone without difficulty, but you’ll need to replace the blades after.

It has a 4 bladed design which has interlocking blades so it’s more sturdy like a one piece head.

They have beautiful accuracy and as long as they’re spinning true and the bow is tuned right they will bring down an elk like throwing a dart.

Lutz Solingen German Steel

1 1/8” cutting diameter

100, 125 grain

Penetration Unavailable

Pros:

These are nicely accurate and have enough punch that even the smaller standard can bring down an elk. They fly true every time and it has excellent penetration with a bone breaking tip and durable blades to give you a great blood trail. The short length means they’re more accurate at longer yardage and you’re less likely to see a nose dive because of this.

Cons:

Replacing the blades isn’t hard, but if you so much as scrape bone they’re nicked and will have to be replaced. This means they’re not particularly durable and while they’ll easily slice through hide if you hit the thicker part of the shoulder blade you may damage that blade enough that you lose the kill because it doesn’t penetrate enough.

Conclusion:

The NAP Thunderhead wins it here simply for the fact that it is a time tried design that works. There’s no fancy wires to change out and no out there technology – just simple blades and ferrule that get the job done. No matter what broadhead you choose it’s all in the bow set up and your accuracy so the best broadhead for elk is undoubtedly on you feel comfortable with.

The Solid Legends would be the main choice if it wasn’t for the cost, though if you’re not worried about that pick the Solid’s over the Thunderheads a the newer tech has some advantages over the basics of the tried and true.

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